Factors Influencing Juvenile Delinquency in SOCCSKSARGEN, Philippines: A Demographic-Based Analysis

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SOCCSKSARGEN, PHILIPPINES— Factors Influencing Juvenile Delinquency in SOCCSKSARGEN, Philippines: A Demographic-Based Analysis. This research was conducted by Abat Daghne D., Dominguez Riena May L., Elizaga Rae A., and Zuyco Quennie Marie S. from Notre Dame of Marbel University, which was published in  the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR) Volume 5 Number 2 of 2026.

Research conducted by Abat Daghne D., Dominguez Riena May L., Elizaga Rae A., and Zuyco Quennie Marie S. revealed that the age factor has a significant association with substance abuse among Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL).

Focus on Fostered Children in Three Rehabilitation Centers

This study involved 58 fostered children who are undergoing rehabilitation at three institutions, namely the Bahay Pag-Asa Center in Koronadal City, the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Tantangan, and the Marcellin Foundation Center in General Santos City.

All respondents were male. As many as 93 percent are 14-18 years old, while 7 percent are in the age range of 9-13 years. In terms of ethnicity, the majority came from the Ilonggo group (47 percent), followed by Cebuano (23 percent), Blaan (21 percent), and Maguindanaon (9 percent).

Data was collected through a structured questionnaire using a four-point scale, with the assistance of social workers. The researchers analyzed six groups of factors suspected to influence juvenile delinquency:

1. Socio-economic factors
2. Family factors
3. School factors
4. Individual factors
5. Peer pressure
6. Substance abuse

All Factors Rated "Low Influential"

Interestingly, the six factors as a whole were considered to have a low influence on juvenile delinquency behavior by the respondents themselves.

The average value of each factor is:

1. Socioeconomic: 1.85 (low)
2. Family: 1.72 (low)
3. School: 1.90 (low)
4. Individual: 2.15 (low)
5. Peer pressure: 2.05 (low)
6. Substance abuse: 2.11 (low)

The scale used shows that the score of 1.51–2.50 belongs to the "low influence" category. This means that these fostered children do not strongly associate poverty, family conflicts, school discrimination, impulsivity, peer pressure, or substance use as the main causes of their involvement in breaking the law.

These findings indicate that juvenile delinquency is likely the result of a combination of more complex social, psychological, and environmental conditions than just one dominant factor.

Age and Substance Abuse: The Only Significant Relationship

Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between age, location, or ethnicity with most of the factors studied. However, there is one important exception: age has a significant association with substance abuse factors.

Children aged 9–13 years show a slightly higher average effect of substance abuse than the 14–18 year age group. These results are in line with other research showing that early adolescence is the most vulnerable period to addictive substance experimentation due to high curiosity and immature self-control.

In other words, the younger the adolescent age, the greater his susceptibility to the influence of harmful substances. These findings reinforce the urgency of early prevention programs, especially anti-drug education at the elementary and early secondary school levels.

Location and Ethnicity Don't Play a Major Role

The study also found that rehabilitation locations in Koronadal, General Santos, and Tangtang—did not show significant differences in the perception of delinquency causative factors.

The same goes for ethnic backgrounds. Although there was a variation in the average score between groups, statistically the difference was not significant. This shows that juvenile delinquency in SOCCSKSARGEN crosses ethnic and regional boundaries. The main risk factors appear to be more related to family dynamics, peers, and psychological conditions that are cross-community.

Implications for Rehabilitation Policies and Programs

Based on these findings, the research team proposed an intervention program called the RISE-UP Program. The program is designed to:

1. Strengthening family support
2. Increase community engagement
3. Providing life skills training
4. Developing a community-based social reintegration strategy

This approach emphasizes that rehabilitation is not enough to be just punishment or detention, but must be based on therapy, education, and strengthening of social relations.

For local governments and social institutions, the results of this study provide practical guidance that:

1. Interventions should be started from an early age.
2. Anti-substance abuse education needs to be prioritized.
3. The program must involve families and communities.
4. Policies should not be based solely on demographic assumptions such as ethnicity or location.

Author profile

•        Abat Daghne D. – Notre Dame of Marbel University.

•        Dominguez Riena May L. – Notre Dame of Marbel University.

•         Elizaga Rae A. – Notre Dame of Marbel University.

•        Zuyco Quennie Marie S. – Notre Dame of Marbel University.

Research source

Abat, D. D., Dominguez, R. M. L., Elizaga, R. A., & Zuyco, Q. M. S. (2026). Factors Influencing Juvenile Delinquency in SOCCSKSARGEN, Philippines: A Demographic-Based Analysis.

East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 517–536.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i2.2

Official URL : https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr